Mother’s Day is more than a holiday created by retailers. The origins of Mother’s Day can be traced back to pagan celebrations in Ancient Greece and Rome. In ancient Greece, Rhea, the mother of all gods was celebrated. Cybele, a mother of goddesses was worshipped as early as 250 B.C. in ancient Rome.
In 17th century England, “Mothering Sunday” was observed on the fourth Sunday of Lent. All mothers in England were celebrated. From the lowliest peasants to the royal family, all people were encouraged to spend this day with their mothers. For many, the celebration included a “mothering cake” or carlings, pancakes made of steeped peas fried in butter with salt and pepper. Steeped peas are standard green peas that have been allowed to dry in the fields, they are starchier when cooked with baking soda which makes them explode in the pot and develop a mushy consistency.
As more of Europe converted to Christianity, the focus of Mothering Sunday changed to honor the “Mother Church” instead of individual mothers. The two celebrations gradually merged and both Mothers and the Mother Church were celebrated.
In the United States, Julia Ward Howe, the author of the lyrics to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” made her Mother’s Day proclamation in 1870.
She called for mothers of all nations around the world to join together in a call for peace and to promote the “amicable settlement of international questions.”
She first proposed the idea of a national Mother’s Day as a day to promote peace in 1872, but her idea was not widely supported.
American Anna Jarvis organized the first Mother’s Day service of worship and celebration at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia in 1908.
She began lobbying and organizing for the service in 1905 after the death of her mother.
Jarvis was an admirer of Julia Ward Howe’s activism. She wanted to recognize Howe’s call for peace and honor the contributions of mothers to the lives of their children. Jarvis believed many sacrifices made by women, especially mothers were ignored or undervalued by society.
When she proposed a national Mother’s Day in 1908 to the U.S. Congress, her idea was rejected. Instead of considering her idea, several congressmen made jokes about not adopting the holiday, so they wouldn’t have to also celebrate Mother-in-law’s Day.
Jarvis kept pushing for acceptance of her idea and by 1911, all states had adopted a Mother’s Day celebration. Jarvis was adamant that Mother’s Day should not be spelled “Mothers’” Day. She wanted the celebration to highlight individual mothers and not just motherhood.
West Virginia was the first state to recognize Mother’s Day as a local holiday.
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother’s Day be held on the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers.
Inspired by a newspaper article about Ann Jarvis in 1913, Constance Adelaide Smith is responsible for reinvigorating Mothering Sunday in the 1910s and 1920s in the British Isles.
She was successful because she highlighted the religious significance of Mothering Sunday, the Christian ecclesiastical celebration that encouraged the faithful to visit the church where they were baptized.
She also referred to the medieval tradition celebrating Mother Church, mothers of earthly homes, Mary, Mother of Jesus, and Mother Nature.
Most countries celebrate some iteration of Mother’s Day, but these celebrations can be held at different times of the year.
In Bolivia, Mother’s Day is a fixed date to commemorate a battle in which women participated to defend their children.
In many Catholic countries, Mother’s Day is tied to Virgin Mary Day, the Feast of the Assumption (August 15).
In Russia, Ukraine, and many Eastern European/Asian countries, Mother’s Day is celebrated on March 8, International Women’s Day.
In Norway, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in February. In Georgia, the date is fixed on March 3.
Many Middle Eastern and African countries celebrate Mother’s Day on March 21.
Some countries recognize more than one date as a day to celebrate Mothers.
Sadly, part of the significance of Mother’s Day has been lost to commercialization in North America and many parts of the world. Before her death in 1948, Anna Jarvis often expressed regret that this special day had been commandeered for profit.
How will you celebrate this special day?
Photo Credits:
Image of Constance Adelaide Smith:
Taken from this website for educational purposes with no intention of copyright infringement: https://www.highlandtitles.com/blog/origin-mothers-day/
Sources for this article:
https://ktvz.com/lifestyle/mothers-day/2020/04/08/do-you-know-the-origins-of-mothers-day/